Me (to myself): It's only been eight years. But I'm getting used to it.

Or am I? I guess a part of me was hoping I wouldn't have to remind him, that while I was away with the kids for a couple of days, he went out and bought a box of fancy chocolates. Something to acknowledge our special day.

Oh, well.

At the end of the day, there is no greater gift between a husband and wife than that of a child. And I am doubly blessed for I have two. I know some who have tried everything they can and haven't been so lucky.

Here I leave you with a picture of our first dance. Cause if you know me, you know how much dancing makes me happy...

Imagine waking up one morning in your ordinary bed, in your ordinary house, and greeting your normal parents before heading out on a normal day and then bumping into a fairy who will forever change your life. You discover you are no longer that ordinary girl from the city of Gardenia who leads a perfectly normal life but rather Princess Bloom, one of the strongest fairies in the magical world and the last survivor of planet Domino. Soon you find yourself packing your bags and moving away to Alfea College, the finest fairy school in all the realms, where you will make new friends and form the Winx Club.

Winx Club is Nickelodeon's first girl-targeted animated t.v. show, a modern fantasy adventure series starring fairies who rely on their strength, smarts, teamwork, and magical powers to fight villains and protect the world from evil. The six fashion savvy fairies, Bloom, Stella, Flora, Musa, Tecna and Aisha, each have their own unique power that helps define their own individuality and defeat villains as well. The Winx characters were created to represent today’s modern girl, heroines that girls can relate to. With the aim of providing positive
messaging, the show empowers girls to embrace self-expression, friendship, adventure, magic and fashion.

I'm up at Blue Mountain with the family enjoying a much needed family getaway and couldn't resist taking the Timber Challenge. If you take a ride on the Ridge Coaster, you will zip right through the course dozens and dozens of feet above you. There are three levels: green, blue and black. I managed to finish all three green courses and one of the blue courses before calling it quits. It took me two hours in total and I was famished and parched. But definitely proud of myself for getting so far. There were some really intimidating spots but I had fun on the zipline. I will definitely being trying the Timber Challenge again in the future. What a thrill!

Ever take up a hobby that brought you much joy but later you find it dropping lower and lower on your must-do list? That's how I feel when it comes to crafting handmade cards. I love it SO much but the demands of motherhood, teaching and life in general make it extremely difficult to find the uninterrupted time I need to get down and dirty in my messy craft space. I do manage to make some at the request of a friend or colleague but even still, I can't do them all. And that makes me a little sad. But then I look at pictures of some of the cards I've made over the years and I feel a spark go off. I found one today that I really liked so I posted it on Diana's Designs Blog. This is just a glimpse of what you'll find.

While I am grateful that your cousins Willie and Sam were so kind as to bear good news of an early spring this year, I am not so impressed by your constant presence in my back yard. Yes, I found it amusing to watch you sitting atop my mulberry tree last year and then gasped in shock as you plopped onto the ground, unharmed. I laughed to myself thinking you were suffering from an identity crisis and couldn't decide whether you were a groundhog or a treehog.

When I look at my wardrobe and accessories, the majority of the colours I see are neutrals. Browns, blacks, whites. Basic boring. There are a few solid-coloured pieces that I own which are bright and bold, and funny enough, those are the ones I receive the most compliments on. So when I saw the new Spring/Summer line of bags and accessories from Lug, I just knew I needed to add more colour to my life. And what better way to do that than with something practical, stylish, and just plain smart.

As a mother of two young children, spending the night away from home always requires that I pack for the inevitable, whether it's rain or shine. This means I am always stuffing a number of items into my small duffle bag, which I originally bought as a carry-on for my trip to Italy back in university. It has two deep pockets on either side and two smaller pockets on the front. And that's pretty much it. Needless to say, it doesn't quite cut it now that I'm married with children. It seems I am always packing something or other in an additional bag or two since it won't all fit in my old bag. It wasn't until I saw the Airbus Weekender Bag that I felt like I had found the solution to my travel woes.

It was a lovely Tuesday evening in late June when I accompanied a group of fellow coffee lovers on a limo ride to the Tim Hortons roasting facility in Ancaster, Ontario. For the first time ever, they opened the doors for an exclusive private tour of the 2.5-year-old plant in the hopes of informing and educating not only "how coffee at Tim Hortons is
made but also the story behind how important quality and consistency is
at Tim Hortons." What I soon discovered is the amount of time and dedication that is invested in assuring each cup of java delivers a rich and consistent taste regardless of what each season may bring.

These are the voyages of Toronto Teacher Mom. Her continuing mission: to explore strange new sports, to seek out arctic life and new exhibitions, to boldly go where no clown has gone before. (Cue Star Trek NG theme song.) As a teacher and a mother of two, one of my favourite places to take the kids in the summer is the Ontario Science Centre. And it's not just because certified Ontario teachers get in for free or that it's close to home. I go because there is always so much to see and do, and there are so many areas to explore both inside and out. Plus, the opportunities for experiential learning are endless. Last month, an invitation came my way to check out the newest exhibits at the Ontario Science Centre on Media Family and Friends Day and I was delighted to accept.

Today, I was going about my regular Facebook business in between folding the laundry and doing the dishes, when I remembered to check birthday notifications. No, I don't know the DOBs of each and every person I befriend on the site so that probably doesn't make me much of a friend. In any case, I saw the name of an old buddy I went to elementary school with named Jason. I decided to creep his wall since I haven't seen the guy in ages. What has the dude been up to? Nothing extraordinary. Just released his first single...

His first single? Who knew the guy could sing anyway? It wasn't long before he informed me that singing Fish and Chips and Vinegar and John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt in school was where it all began. Well, Jason... er, I mean... Jayce. Happy birthday, bro! And wishing you much success!

The other day, my husband stopped by the grocery store and picked up some So Good chocolate soy milk for the kids. It didn't take long for my son to make note of the big carton of chocolatey goodness sitting in the fridge and it seemed like every time he asked for a drink, he made it clear that he wanted chocolate milk. We don't often buy it so it was a nice treat for the kids. I had some, too, and it hit the spot. I haven't been drinking a lot of milk of any kind lately. But I have been drinking a lot of coffee. With the blistering hot temperatures we've been experiencing, though, I've been craving more of an iced coffee beverage.

In the summer, I often stop by the drive-thru and order an iced cappuccino made with milk but there are a few times when I ask for chocolate milk instead. It makes it a little sweeter and tastier, and calms my chocolate cravings. A few weeks ago, our kitchen saw the addition of a brand new coffee maker, something we have done without for a couple of years since our old coffee pot had shattered. In any case, I put it to good use but usually found that there would be too much coffee left over. Such a shame to dump it in the sink, I thought to myself. Then I remembered an idea somebody gave me (wish I could remember who) to freeze leftover coffee in an ice tray. So that's what I did.

A few years ago, we registered my daughter in soccer and while she was enthusiastic about it at the start, it wasn't long before we were met with reluctance. By the second or third 'game', she became very shy and after the first month, she refused to participate at all. I had no problem with giving up since I am pretty sure I'm not cut out to be a soccer mom, but I did have an issue with my daughter not being able to finish something she had started. In the end, maybe soccer just wasn't her thing.

After a year's hiatus from the organized sport, my husband registered both my kids with a different soccer club. I was hopeful that having my daughter on an all-girls team would encourage her to participate and have more fun this time around. I was wrong.

What's round, made with authentic Caputo flour, covered in imported Italian tomatoes, topped with fresh fior-di-latte mozzarella, and tastes downright delizioso? If you haven't heard the latest buzz, it's the infamous Neapolitan pizza brought to you by the newest pizzeria to hit the province - Famoso. Their award-winning authentic Neapolitan pizza is made using hand-tossed dough that is naturally low in gluten. They also use vine ripened Campania tomatoes that are low in acidity and naturally sweet. Add some creamy mozzarella and fresh basil, fire it up in a bell-shaped oven at 900 degrees Fahrenheit and 90 seconds later, you have a mouthwatering margherita pizza that is beyond magnifico.

Okay, so it isn't really Tom Cruise but the talented Matthew Hawkins who does an awesome Tom Cruise impersonation, jumping on sofas and all. He certainly provided some fun entertainment at a recent event hosted by BrighterLife.ca. And hopefully, we will see him as a regular on Saturday Night Live soon.

About me

Diana is a mother of two children and works as an elementary French teacher in Toronto, Ontario. Launched in 2006, her blog Toronto Teacher Mom features articles on her family's adventures as well as reviews on the latest and greatest. When she isn't busy blogging, cleaning or playing with the kids, you can find her standing on her head, riding a bike or sharing crafts on dianasdesigns.ca.